Orbos pushes PUV modernization

CEBU CITY – By January, all dilapidated jeepneys in the country will be abolished.

The phase-out of rundown jeepneys was elaborated on by Thomas Orbos, Department of Transportation (DoTr) undersecretary, when he was guest speaker during the general membership meeting of the Cebu Chamber of Commerce & Industry (CCCI) here recently.

Orbos said the phase out of jeepneys is part of the Duterte administration’s public utility vehicle modernization program (PUVMP).

The old jeepneys will be replaced by about 270 new ones and more buses that are safer, have low-carbon emission and are PWD-friendly.

The change will begin in Metro Manila and other key cities in the country, Orbos said.

To help launch the modernization progrsm, the DoTr has developed strong financial partners and acquired technical aid from financing institutions such as the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) and Land Bank (LBP).

Early this year DoTr signed a memorandum of understanding with DBP to start a financing program that offers reasonable loans for transport cooperatives, corporations and other transport groups.

Orbos said the financing rates are very affordable with a “5-6-7” formula, which stands for an easy down payment, very low interest rates and payability within seven years.

He added that DoTr looks for ways to help the transport sector get financial assistance on top of government subsidies to improve its public vehicle fleet that are environment and PWD friendly.

Orbos said that in April, DoTr and Landbank signed an MOU for a P1-billion financing window for public utility vehicles for its Special Environment-Friendly & Efficiently Driven (SPEED) Jeepney program.

“We are pushing for the PUV modernization for a safer and low-carbon emission units for the benefit of the millions of commuters/travelers in the country daily,” Orbos said.

He explained the administration’s Build, Build, Build infrastructure program via a video presentation. that includes several infra projects for Metro Cebu. He named a few of these projects, including the expansion of the Cebu-Mactan airport and the La Consolacion International Port project that will connect Cebu, Bohol and Mindanao. (Minerva BC Newman)